Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Dry Wall Repair....tools needed for the "mud"

Dry Wall Repair........"what tools do I need to install the mud?" I'm glad you asked that question. You don't need too many tools to repair dry wall. Hey.... "don't forget" to check out the instructional videos, at the bottom of this post, for visual examples of the tools you will need (I think you will find these videos helpful/lots of video content). I will now give you a "shopping list" of the tools required for your dry wall repair(s)......as follows:

* You will definitely need a dry wall pan, for your dry wall repair. A plastic dry wall pan is sufficient & less costly than a metal dry wall pan & if you decide that dry wall repair is up your alley for a part time (or full time) job, then you will want to graduate to a metal dry wall pan.

* Purchasing a variety of dry wall "knives" is a must, for your dry wall repair(s). I'm talking the dry wall "knives" that you will be spreading the mud with. These knives look like large putty knives. The hardware store has two grades of metal dry wall knives with one grade being less costly than the other. Stick with the less expensive grade as they will work just as well as the others. If you end up deciding you will be doing alot of dry wall repairing in the future (or now), you might want to invest in the more expensive grade knives.

* For your dry wall repair, I recommend applying the paper tape or the webbing tape with a 4" knife. Once you get the hang of applying the mud to the wall, you may want to start using a 6" knife which will apply more mud & save you a little time. Just make sure you get good with the 4" dry wall knife first....OK?

* If you decide to use quickset mud for your dry wall repair, I recommend using a 3" knife to mix up the quickset in your dry wall pan. A 3" knife comes in handy for all sorts of small areas (when applying dry wall mud) so it's a good idea to have one of these around.

* For floating out your final dry wall repair coat of mud, I recommend using a 10" knife. This knife's shape looks a little different than the other knives (as mentioned above) but this knife works great for bridging out the dry wall mud & blending the new mud into the existing wall. You just can't do this with the 6" knife & get a good finish to your dry wall repair (depending how big you dry wall repair area is). If your dry wall repair area is very small like a little hole in the wall or one open seam to cover, then you "might" be able to get by with the 6" knife but I would still recommend having a 10" knife around (just in case).

* The hardware store does carry an 8" knife but you can achieve the same results by using the 6" knife first & finishing off your dry wall repair with the 10" knife in lieu of an 8" knife (I didn't want you to have to buy every size of knife out there.....my word!). They also carry a 12" knife & a 14" knife (for applying skiptrowel texture,wiping down spray texture knockdown,etc. but we're talking dry wall repairs here so I didn't want you to have to break the bank when picking up the needed dry wall tools....capeche?)

* I also carry an empty large plastic water bottle in my arsenol, for using to pour water in my dry wall pan when mixing up dry quickset material for my dry wall repairs. It certainly comes in handy. I encourage you to carry one as well. It beats filling your pan with water at the kitchen or bathroom sink thinking you won't make a mess (when mixing up quickset) but please don't do this as you "will" make a mess.......Murphy's Law.

* News Flash * Check out the instructional videos at the end of this post. Lots of good video content!

* When purchasing "knives" for your dry wall repair, I would stress to you "not" to think you can do your dry wall repairs with the plastic knives you will see for sale at the hardware store. You may think they will work but they really don't work very well, especially if you are applying quickset material to your dry wall repair, as your plastic knives will flex more than you want them to, leaving extra mud on the wall in certain areas thereby creating small mounds that may show up when you paint your dry wall repairs. Buyer beware!

* A hand held sanding "paddle" is a must before & after installing your final coat of mud to your dry wall repair area. This helps blend your dry wall repair into the existing wall. This type of sanding "paddle" is easy to use, has a handle on it, & you can change the sand paper on it whenever you need to. It's a plastic unit & very inexpensive. This works great for small dry wall repairs. Don't forget the sand paper!

* Oh......a pair of gloves come in handy too....when completing your dry wall repairs. I usually get the ones that have rubber on the hand area & cotton on the top part or you can use full cotton gloves. It minimizes the amount of mud you will get on your hands when you're working on your dry wall repair. Repairs to your dry wall seem easier to complete when wearing a pair of gloves. Of course you don't need gloves....just a thought.

That's about it. See....you won't need too many tools for your dry wall repair(s). If you think of anything else you may need....get it. This article/post is for you to start using your mind & thinking about your dry wall repair project(s) before starting them. Make your list of materials needed.....think about what tools you need & have them available.....& be ready for your dry wall repair projects......or any other project for that matter. Hope this helps.

If you have a friend who you think may benefit from reading this post & seeing the instructional videos, please click on the little envelope (with the arrow on it) at the end of this post. It's easy to do & your friend might just thank you.

Click here to get some video painting tips for your drywall repair

Patch On!

VideoJoeKnows

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